Manjitti, manjistha in Hindi and Sanskrit, is Indian madder, a scrambling climber whose long red roots have dyed Indian cotton red for centuries. In Ayurveda manjistha is one of the best-known herbs for the skin and blood. The roots are rich in red anthraquinone pigments, which colour urine reddish in people who take it. It grows in the Himalaya, the Western Ghats and other hill forests.
- Botanical name
- Rubia cordifolia L.
- Family
- Rubiaceae
- Tamil
- Manjitti
- Hindi
- Manjistha
- Sanskrit
- Mañjiṣṭhā
- Parts used
- Root in lists
- Habit
- Indian madder, a prickly climber with a red dye root
- Last updated
- 2026-10-27
How to recognise Manjitti
It is a perennial climber with square, rough stems lined with tiny backward-pointing prickles that hook onto other plants.
The leaves grow in whorls of four, heart-shaped and long-pointed, with rough surfaces and long stalks.
Tiny greenish-white to yellowish star-shaped flowers form loose, branched clusters.
The fruits are small, round berries that ripen black.
The roots are long, thin and bright red inside when cut.
Traditional use of Manjitti
Dyeing
Ground roots, fixed with alum, gave the reds and pinks of Indian printed and painted cottons traded across the Indian Ocean.
Indian textile history
Ayurveda
Manjistha is a key ingredient in formulas for skin complaints and is described as cooling and blood-cleansing.
Ayurvedic practice
Siddha
Manjitti root is used in Siddha preparations for skin and in medicated oils.
Siddha practice
Modern notes on Manjitti
The main red pigments are purpurin and munjistin, close relatives of the alizarin in European madder.
Synthetic alizarin, first made in 1868, replaced madder roots in industrial dyeing.
Laboratory and small studies on root extracts have been published, but there is little reliable clinical evidence for skin conditions.
Anthraquinones can act as laxatives and stain urine pink to red.
Manjitti safety
Red-tinged urine is expected while taking it and is harmless, but blood in the urine for other reasons needs a doctor. Avoid it in pregnancy and while breastfeeding, and use it only with guidance from a trained practitioner.
Ecology and sourcing
It grows in forest edges and scrub from Africa through India to China and Japan.
Wild roots are dug for the herbal trade, so cultivation is preferred.
Birds eat the black berries.
Related plants
Also in Rubiaceae
Questions about Manjitti
What is manjistha?
Indian madder, Rubia cordifolia.
Why does Manjitti turn urine red?
Its red root pigments pass into the urine.
Is Manjitti the same as European madder?
No. European madder is Rubia tinctorum, a relative.
Is Manjitti a dye plant?
Yes. The roots give red and pink dyes.
Is Manjitti related to coffee?
Yes. Both belong to Rubiaceae.
Sources
- Rubia cordifolia L. — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q3237818 (Rubia cordifolia)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.